XJ 350 Sovereign 2.7 diesel 2006

Just had a new gearbox, however before this was randomly getting a "Parking brake fault warning" coming up this would occur once a week at least and sometimes several times in a row but it would make no difference to the running and parking of the car.

Since a few days ago it's been up permanently. Started up the car today and the warning came up and I'm completely unable to shift the J gate lever out of Park or move the car, I've tried the following:

It did come up actually after I'd had the gearbox replaced and took it for a test drive with the mechanic with me, he said it could be a chipboard issue but nothing to worry about until the next service. Obviously given my current predicament he was wrong!

Anybody any ideas?

 

You can release the interlock by removing the cover on the transmission selector assembly. This doesn't cure the fault, just gets you running again so you can get to a repair shop.

 

Could it be a failing battery? Would be #1 suspect on an S-Type.

 

Just a thought before you get any further involved: check the mechanical shift lever connection to the transmission on the right side. The fastener bolts have a habit if backing out causing this funny business.

 

No it has a new battery and it's an X350.

Trouble is I don't have much of a mechanical hand when it comes to cars... Whereabouts do I find this? Is it under the car?

Any idea or instruction of how I can get to it? Any photos on this forum etc.?

Trouble is I leave today and so won't be able to deal with the car and my mother needs to drive it!

 

Yes. Under the car approximately under the front passenger seat in a UK car. The check is not much of a stretch even for the most mechanically challenged of us.

 

Ok thanks I'll try it when I get back but that could be weeks now.

There is one thing to note we have noticed the fault appears on very damp or wet days, after a dry spell it appears to not occur or right itself. It's been raining heavily up in Lancashire so at the same time the problem escalated.

Thought I'd put it out there, maybe someone has some further ideas.

 

Mine was doing this / the warning would trigger while driving, then the next time I put it in park, it would not release. A simple cycle of the key always reset it though.

The symptoms went away once I replaced the rear brakes (pads and rotors) which were on their last legs (serious borrowed time), so you may want to check your rear pad thickness.

Lastly, as a triage fix, if your ebrake is working, and the car is left in a flat / level garage overnight or elsewhere, park the car in neutral and it will keep you going (at least IIRC the car starts in neutral). But only use the method in an emergency of course / if the ebrake is setting.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

Jeff thanks for the heads up will definitely check the rear pads.

Any idea how I can delicately remove the gear selector panel bezel? I was a bit hamfisted with the roof console, would have been nice if someone could have explained how to approach it.

i.e. how do I do this!